Choice Review

Aimed at development scholars and practictioners, this bibliography is based on three previous works cited in the preface. The clearly written introduction presents a cogent case for producing this work. Development agencies are increasingly focusing on the burgeoning informal sectors that accompany the "urban explosion." The topic is broken down in thematic chapters, each of which starts with an excellent, brief introductory essay followed by a short list of general works for further background reading. Author, country, and subject indexes are provided. The abstracts are substantive, and chapters contain relevant cross-references. This work is far from comprehensive. Its 188 works published since 1980 contain many documents from intergovernmental organizations and include much grey literature. (Instructions are given on how to obtain the various ILO series included.) However, a quick search of the PAIS CD-ROM on the chapter theme of "Women in the Informal Sector" produced 11 hits, none overlapping with the 41 listings given here. Besides being printed on acidic, impermanent paper, the bibliography is diminshed in overall quality by two surprising faults. First, a list of about 90 additional relevant publications is appended for no apparent reason. These titles should have been inserted in the main body of the work. Second, library retrieval of items cited will be made more difficult because the citations for journal articles and articles in books lack page numbers. Interlibrary loan services will not appreciate this omission. Recommended for graduate students, faculty, and development practictioners.-A. Kagan, University of Connecticut